Mayor's Charity Ball

This is Patricia Hobby, our current Mayor, with her son at the Mayor's Charity Ball.

Each Mayor has their own style, and next year Abingdon could have the youngest ever Mayor if Duncan Brown, Pat's deputy, takes over. So who knows, next year it could be the Mayor's Charity Rave - or whatever young people do nowadays.

The evening included a good meal from the caterers at the Guildhall, a speech by an ex Dalton Barracks commander, and dancing to the music of Catch 22, and a raffle.

Prizes were donated by local businesses. I won a ten pound voucher to spend at Badgers Menswear. I did pop in there the other day to ask about suits, but was told the only place that did suits in Abingdon was Tesco.

Whatever happened to Burton's , Hornes and Ciro Citterio?

Wood Chip and Dining Chairs

There is evidence that the Green Gym have started their program for the year. A wood chip trail has been laid.

Not very far away a couple of dining chairs have been left. I wonder what they are saying to the tree or visa versa. That is assuming they can talk.

Bath Street resurfacing

Resurfacing work on Bath Street and temporary Stop Go signs added to the mix in Abingdon town centre.

Pavements - Old and New

The High Street started off with pavements made from bricks.

The new slabs come carefully wrapped and stacked on pallets

and look like this when laid.

The Green Man in Abingdon

On Saturday, Tim Healey gave a talk to the Abingdon European Society on The Green Man in Britain and Europe.

As I understand it, having browsed the internet on the subject... The Green Man is a name coined by Lady Raglan in 1939 to fit a mediaeval carving. This one is to be found above the west porch of St Helen's Church in Abingdon.

In St Nicolas, on the choir stalls, etched into the wood, are various images of Green Men. It looks like a pagan image to me, but one that people didn't mind putting in and round their churches.

The other example I know of in Abingdon is the stone face beneath the Abbey Gateway - decorating one of the roof supports. The surrounding leaves suggest that he could soon turn into a full Green Man with more foliage coming from his mouth.

I don't know how old these examples are, possibly only Victorian, so does anybody know the whereabouts of any more or how old these ones might be.

Visiting Professor

Today, we went to a talk given by Professor David Nutt - until recently the chief drugs advisor to the Home Office. It was at Seminar Room 1 in Coseners House - very nice too.

The meeting was introduced by Dr Evan Harris who has a keen interest in Science. Professor David Nutt was recently forced to resign, and appeared on the front pages of many British newspapers, after his studies and some of his pronouncements were out of step with government thinking on the subject of drugs.

Quick Choice and Lucky Dip

I like how Abingdon Library, and maybe lots of other libraries beside, have made it more exciting choosing a book. For some time there has been the Quick Choice section.

But for the first time I noticed today they have introduced the Lucky Dip section. All you can see is a brown package and an ISBN number. It is like having a present to open, and if you don't like it you can take it straight back.